Erling Haaland marked his FIFA World Cup debut for Norway with two goals against Iraq, but just hours later, Lionel Messi was once again the centre of attention.
Haaland helped Norway to a 4-1 win in their opening match, making an immediate impact on the biggest stage with a brace.
But even after a performance that grabbed headlines, the Manchester City striker found himself just as impressed as everyone else after watching Messi’s hat-trick against Algeria later that evening.
Haaland reacts after Messi steals the spotlight
Messi’s three goals in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria not only secured another three points for his side, but also saw him equal Miroslav Klose’s record as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.
Fans and players around the world were quick to react. Haaland posted a simple message on Snapchat after the match.
“Messi is a madman 👑.”
It was a telling moment, especially on a day when Haaland had made his own mark with a debut brace.
For many players, two goals on their World Cup debut would be the story of the day. But Messi’s record-equalling night quickly took centre stage.
Messi continues rewriting World Cup history
Messi’s hat-trick took him to 16 World Cup goals, moving him past Ronaldo Nazario and into a tie with Klose at the top of the all-time list.
He also became the first player to appear in six different World Cups, while celebrating his 200th appearance for Argentina.
Even Haaland, seen as one of the sport’s biggest superstars, was left in awe.
With Argentina just getting started in the tournament, Messi now has the chance to move clear of Klose and set another record.
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